Rosy outlook alert! South Korea predicts US-North Korea talks in 2018

North Korea will continue enhancing its nuclear defensive potential and the United States should put up with the idea that Pyongyang won't give up these weapons, its Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

The UN Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday for its recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil and its earnings from workers overseas.

At the same time, the North is also likely to attempt to engage with South Korea in order to restore inter-Korean relations next year, it also said. After the latest missile test by North Korea at the end of last month, the US intensified its pressure on Beijing.

Tension has been high on the flashpoint peninsula as the isolated but nuclear-armed regime has staged a series of atomic and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests - most recently on November 29.

The Counter WMD Division will be renamed and reorganized into the Missile and Space Policy Division, with the intention of specializing in North Korea's missiles and space programs.

"In searching for the recognition of its status as a de facto nuclear-possessing state, (the North) would explore the possibility of negotiations with the U.S.".

"China has made enormous efforts to push for settlement through dialogue and negotiations and has paid a price higher than all the other parties for the objective of implementing the council's resolutions", Deputy Ambassador Wu Haitao said.

China bought goods worth $100.18 million in the last month, up from $90.75 million in October but lower compared to $262.2 million a year ago.